Home/Europe/Demonstration of force in Cottbus (Germany): Thousands of counter-demonstrators marched on Saturday against violence committed by migrants. A pro-migrant demonstration attracted only 600 people.

Demonstration of force in Cottbus (Germany): Thousands of counter-demonstrators marched on Saturday against violence committed by migrants. A pro-migrant demonstration attracted only 600 people.

A group of about 600 protestors in the eastern German city of Cottbus, calling for acceptance and openness, were outnumbered by a much larger crowd of anti-migrant counter-protesters. At least 2,000 Right-wing counter-demonstrators gathered under the banner of the Right-wing organization Zukunft Heimat (Future Homeland) – a group which claims to have grown in number in the eastern city as a result of a series of attacks involving migrants since the beginning of the year.

On Thursday, the Cottbus police arrested six of their members because they were distributing tear gas canisters and a controversial flyer supporting the National Democratic Party (NPD).

The City of Cottbus has suspended the acceptance of new migrants since 20 January.